“The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon” scribe Peter Morgan provides a no-fuss look at the contentious forty-four-day reign of Brian Clough as manager of the 1974 Leeds United soccer team. Using informative flashbacks, we’re shown that Clough, with the help of partner Peter Taylor, built the lowly Derby County into a contending squad, but how his mountainous ego and overwhelming inferiority complex threaten his career as well as professional, and personal, relationships. He’s earned the job of the country’s top team, but it’s a group of dirty players he loathes and tensions flare. Directed by Tom Hooper (HBO’s “John Adams”), “The Damned United” survives with the endlessly watchable Michael Sheen as Clough and Timothy Spall as Taylor, two men who work as one brain and suffer when separated. Morgan’s script, based on David Peace’s popular nonfiction novel, lightens the mood with weightless humor and an ending as sweet as pie. Easy, breezy cinema. 97m. (Tom Lynch)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Fine Line: A Review Of Shortcomings It's a season for the comeuppance of a curmudgeon in Randall Park's smart, biting "Shortcomings," adapted by Adrian Tomine from his graphic novel of the same name.
Spawn Sacrifice: A Review Of The Creator "The Creator" is richly detailed, punchy, pulpy, punkish entertainment that still has highly serious subjects in mind, without growing didactic and with substantial heart.
Heart of Darkness: A Review of The Batman The three-hour film noir unfolds briskly, an intensive study in the pervasive interplay of power, money and corruption in what seems like perpetual rainy night.
